Departmental Style Guides

The following is a list of the required citation style approved for each department. 

In cases where there is conflicting format guidance between the style listed below and the CSULB Format Manual, the CSULB Format Manual always takes precedence. Please be sure to use the most recent version of your citation style.

If you have any questions about your approved citation style or you do not see your citation style listed, check with your advisor and please contact the Thesis Office.

 
Department NameStyle Manual or Journal Citation Method
Advanced Studies in Education and CounselingAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
AnthropologyChicago Manual of Style; Turabian Manual for Writers
Art
  • Art Education: American Psychological Association (APA)
  • Art History: Chicago Manual of Style; Turabian Manual for Writers
Asian/Asian-American StudiesModern Language Association (MLA); Turabian Manual for Writers
Biological SciencesAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
Bob Cole Conservatory of MusicNotes Style Sheet; Turabian Manual for Writers; Chicago Manual of Style
Chemical EngineeringInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Chemistry: American Chemical Society (ACS); Turabian Manual for Writers
  • Biochemistry: Journal of Biological Chemistry; Turabian Manual for Writers
Civil Engineering and Construction Engineering ManagementAmerican Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE); Turabian Manual for Writers
Communication StudiesAmerican Psychological Association (APA); Chicago Manual of Style; Turabian Manual for Writers; Modern Language Association (MLA)
Computer Engineering and Computer ScienceInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE); Turabian Manual for Writers
Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Emergency Management, School of
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice: American Psychological Association (APA)
  • Emergency Management: American Psychological Association (APA)
Education, TeacherAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
Educational Leadership American Psychological Association (APA)
Electrical EngineeringInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE); Turabian Manual for Writers
Engineering, GeneralInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE); Turabian Manual for Writers
English and Creative WritingModern Language Association (MLA)
Family and Consumer SciencesAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
GeographyAnnals of the Association of American Geographers (AAAG); Chicago Manual of Style; Turabian Manual for Writers
Geological SciencesGeological Society of America (GSA) Bulletin; Turabian Manual for Writers
Health Care AdministrationAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
Health ScienceAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
HistoryChicago Manual of Style; Turabian Manual for Writers
KinesiologyAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
LinguisticsAmerican Psychological Association (APA); Chicago Manual of Style; Modern Language Association (MLA)
Mathematics and StatisticsTurabian Manual for Writers
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Mechanical Eng.: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
  • Aerospace Eng.: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
Nursing, School ofAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
PhilosophyPhilosophy Dept. format guide; American Psychological Association (APA); Chicago Manual of Style; Modern Language Association (MLA)
Physics and AstronomyPhysical Review Style and Notation Guidelines; Turabian Manual for Writers
Political ScienceTurabian Manual for Writers
PsychologyAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
Recreation and Leisure StudiesAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
Religious StudiesChicago Manual of Style; Modern Language Association (MLA) (with department approval)
Romance, German, and Russian Languages and LiteraturesModern Language Association (MLA); Turabian Manual for Writers
Science EducationAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
Social Work, School ofAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
SociologyAmerican Psychological Association (APA); American Sociological Association (ASA)
Speech-Language PathologyAmerican Psychological Association (APA)
Theatre Arts
  • M.F.A.: Modern Language Association (MLA)
  • M.B.A./M.F.A.: Turabian Manual for Writers

The Thesis Office always uses the latest print edition of a style guide. Be sure you are using the most recent edition.

Other citation style guides are available online. Where possible, they are linked above. Generally, a keyword search through a major search engine will pick up a link to the style guides used by professional organizations or journal citation methods.

Be careful when using citation builders, citation managers and some online secondary sources, as they are sometimes inaccurate. It is the student's responsibility to review citations created by a citation generator (or any other digital application for creating citations) for accuracy and consistency with official style guide citation rules.

For additional resources and help with citations, visit the University Library Research Guide on Style Manuals and Citation Methods and connect with your department's librarian.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition by American Psychological Association Staff
Call Number: Reference Desk BF76.7 .P83 2020
ISBN: 9781433832154
Publication Date: 2019-10-01

A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Ninth Edition by Kate L. Turabian; Wayne C. Booth (Revised by); Gregory G. Colomb (Revised by); University of Chicago Press Staff (Revised by); Joseph M. Williams (Revised by)
Call Number: Reference Desk LB2369. T8 2018
ISBN: 9780226494425
Publication Date: 2018-04-16

The Chicago Manual of Style, Eighteenth Edition by University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff
ISBN: 9780226817972
Publication Date: 2024-09-19

MLA Handbook, Ninth Edition by The Modern Language Association of America
Call Number: Reference Desk LB2369 .M52 2021
ISBN: 9781603293525
Publication Date: 2016-03-14

The ACS Style Guide by Lorrin R. Garson (Editor); Anne M. Coghill (Editor)
Call Number: Reference Desk QD8.5 .A25 2006
ISBN: 0841239991
Publication Date: 2006-07-20